The West Waterford Area includes almost half of the County.  There are over 50 separate Water Supply Schemes currently serving the area, many of which are experiencing supply shortages or water quality problems.  The lack of an adequate water supply is a major constraint on the sustainable development of the area.  For these reasons, Waterford County Council wish to rationalise the existing supply arrangements and develop a new Water Supply for the West Waterford Area.

The Councils Assessment of Needs, 2007 – 2016, states:

“Waterford County Council regards the development of a major Regional Water Supply Scheme for the West of the county as its most important water supply strategic objective.”

The Department of the Environment have included €2.945m for West Waterford Water Supply Scheme in its 2007 – 2009 Water Services Investment Programme as a Scheme to start in 2008.  The Department has already approved the appointment of Consultants to prepare:

• A Strategic Review of Water Supplies in West Waterford.
  
• A Preliminary Report setting out proposals for new water supply infrastructure in the priority Stage 1 Area.

The Preliminary Report covering the Stage 1 Area, comprising Lismore, Cappoquin, Ballyduff and Tallow areas, has recently been completed.  The Report makes recommendations on necessary emergency and augmentation works.

The Strategic Review, which will examine possible water supply sources in the overall West Waterford Area to resolve current source capacity and quality problems will be completed in early 2008.  Already, trial well drilling and testing has taken place in the area.

It is proposed to provide additional high level storage, rising mains and supply mains to improve the existing Dungarvan Water Supply.  Yield testing of the Ballynamuck source as well as trial drilling in the area has already been undertaken as part of the West Waterford Strategic Review.  The Scheme is included (€3.555m) in the Department of the Environment’s Water Services Investment Programme as a Scheme to start in 2009.  Consultants will be appointed during 2008 to prepare a Preliminary Report for the Scheme.

The augmentation of supplies in the Stage 1 Area, the improvements to Dungarvan Water Supply and the completion of the Strategic Review are considered by the Council to be interim stages towards realising the County’s Strategic Objective to develop a major Regional Water Supply in West Waterford.